May202013

Retail sales increased 0.1% in April. Business inventories remained unchanged in March. The topline PPI fell 0.7% in April as the core rose 0.1%. Industrial production fell 0.5% in April. The topline CPI fell 0.4% in April as the core rose 0.1%. Housing starts fell 16.5% in April to an annual pace of 853,000. Building permits increased 14.3% in April to an annual pace of 1,017,000. Initial jobless claims rose 32,000 to 360,000 for the week ended 5/11.